Feedback urged on ‘holistic’ approach to prostitution

Public submissions on issues relating to prostitution in Waitakere City will be called for after the Christmas break.

The Planning and Regulatory Committee yesterday resolved that the submission period on the Council’s Work Programme Update and Draft Policy Statement on the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 will start on January 31 2005 and end on 14 March.

Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Committee Councillor Vanessa Neeson urges public input to help develop Council’s policy on the sex industry.

She says Council planners suggest a holistic and collaborative approach to assess the effects of the Act, not in isolation, but in combination with issues such as drugs, alcohol, crime and violence.

Councillor Neeson says she “accepts that people have concerns. That’s very natural, but it is important for them not to remain silent, but to bring their concerns into the open so they can be part of the process. The Council has prepared drafts for discussion which are available on request.

“We expect to work with the community through a robust, transparent process. The Committee wanted to miss the Christmas period to give people time to prepare submissions,” she says.

Dependant on the final policy, a bylaw on location and signage may be drafted and a District Plan change to manage the sex industry’s environmental effects.

“We are keen to respond in an appropriate way and ensure any controls over the commercial sex industry are reasonable, practicable and equitable. Potential negative impacts on the community are of prime concern,”says Councillor Neeson.

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